Arkansas Tech University selected as Military Friendly SchoolRUSSELLVILLE—Arkansas Tech University has achieved the distinction of Military Friendly School for 2017 following compilation of data by ratings organization Victory Media. The designation is based upon exceeding benchmark standards in six areas: academic policies and compliance, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, financial aid and assistance, graduation and career and military student support and retention. Assessment by Vict...

University of Arkansas eyes plans for 2 new residence hallsFAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville is considering plans to spend $77 million to build two new residence halls on campus to accommodate a rise in enrollment. Officials say there's a capacity of 5,732 beds on campus. This fall, the university had just under 5,000 enrolled freshmen, and Chancellor Joe Steinmetz says that makes it difficult for upperclassmen to live on campus. The chancellor told university trustees Thursday...

3 arrested in fatal shootings of 2 men in BlythevilleBLYTHEVILLE — The Blytheville Police Department says it has made three arrests in connection to two killings at a convenience store. The Blytheville Courier (http://bit.ly/2fWXQm4 ) reports that 62-year-old Cherry Tree store owner Bahadur Dhillon and 56-year-old Anthony Tramble were fatally shot Saturday night. Police say a 25-year-old man was arrested Wednesday. An 18-year-old man and a male juvenile were arrested Thursday. All three face cha...

Arkansas education board finalizes charter school plansLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Board of Education has accepted a state panel's approval of a new adult education charter school in Little Rock and a new Haas Hall Academy campus in downtown Rogers. The board on Thursday also finalized the state Charter Authorizing Panel's approval of a 400-student increase for the Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers. It also approved the relocation of the KIPP Delta Elementary School to a former Helena-West...

Schools report racist incidents in wake of Trump electionIn the wake of Donald Trump's election, reports of racist incidents are emerging from the nation's schools and universities, including students who chanted "white power" and called black classmates "cotton pickers." Reporting by The Associated Press and local media outlets has identified more than 20 such encounters beginning on Election Day, many involving people too young to cast a ballot. At the University of New Mexico, a Muslim engineerin...

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By Errin Haines Whack and Jay Reeves, The Associated PressAssociated Press

In the weeds: Long road to medical pot's start in ArkansasLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Voters have made Arkansas the first Bible Belt state to legalize medical marijuana, but it will be several months or longer before patients suffering from a host of ailments will be able to buy the drug. Despite vigorously opposing the measure, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he won't stand in the way of the medical marijuana program approved Tuesday and asked lawmakers to set aside $3 million for its launch. He al...

3 Arkansas mayors ousted in recall electionsLITTLE ROCK — Three Arkansas mayors have been removed in recall elections. This marks the most recalls in an election since a state law allowing the removal of elected officials was enacted in 2009, according to Arkansas Municipal League executive director Don Zimmerman. Voters are allowed to remove officials in the middle of their four-year terms, if they can gather signatures from at least 25 percent of the town or county's qualified elector...

Arkansas justice won't recuse from nursing home caseLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas Supreme Court justice says she won't recuse from hearing an appeal related to a wrongful-death lawsuit against a nursing home owner who donated thousands of dollars to her campaign two years ago. Justice Rhonda Wood on Thursday denied the motion asking that she not hear Michael Morton's appeal of a state judge's order granting class-action status in Andrew Phillips' lawsuit against Morton and Robinson Nursing and Reha...

New Helena board picked after release from state controlHELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) — Voters have picked a new school board for the Helena-West Helena district but rejected a property tax measure to pay for improvements to the high school. Tuesday's election was the first for the Helena-West Helena School District since the district was released from state control earlier this year. The state took over the district in 2011 because of financial mismanagement and dissolved the local school board. T...

Suspect arrested soon after North Little Rock bank robberyNORTH LITTLE ROCK — North Little Rock police say a suspect in a bank robbery was arrested shortly after the robbery. Sgt. Brian Dedrick says the Bank of England on Highway 165 in North Little Rock was robbed shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday by a man who said he had weapon and demanded money. Dedrick said the man fled in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was arrested after the vehicle was spotted and stopped a short time l...

Arkansas governor: Won't try to block medical pot planLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas' Republican governor won't stand in the way of the first medical marijuana program in the Bible Belt, he said Wednesday, asking lawmakers to set aside $3 million to prepare for its launch. Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the former federal Drug Enforcement Administration director who had been an outspoken opponent of the state's medical pot effort, said he's asked officials to begin working on the rules necessary for the program, w...

University of Arkansas to host social issues eventsFAYETTEVILLE — The chancellor of the University of Arkansas said the school is developing an educational series on social issues for the campus as a result of six women's basketball players who recently kneeled during the nation anthem. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said the perspective of veterans and the meaning of the American flag should be considered along with the social concerns raised by the student-athletes. Steinmetz discussed the univers...

Arkansas brings medical pot to Bible Belt, but fights remainLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas voters handed marijuana advocates a significant victory by making the state the first in the Bible Belt to legalize the drug for medical use, and groups on both sides of the issue are now gearing up for fights over how to set up the program in the coming months. The medical marijuana proposal narrowly approved by Arkansas voters Tuesday is a cultural tipping point that shows the drug has gained acceptance even...

Trump, Boozman victories underscore Arkansas GOP gainsLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas underscored its position as a deeply red state Tuesday as voters delivered its six electoral votes to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, but they also handed medical marijuana advocates their first Bible Belt victory by legalizing the drug for some patients. Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a state where she served as first lady for 12 years while her husband was the governor. The once reli...

Teen boy found shot in Pine Bluff dies; suspect soughtPINE BLUFF— Authorities say a 15-year-old boy has died a day after he was found unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound in Pine Bluff. The Pine Bluff Police Department says Decorion Jones was found around 4:45 p.m. Monday. He was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where he died of his injuries on Tuesday. Police say a 17-year-old is being sought as a suspect in the shooting. ___ Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, htt...

Truck crashes into Arkansas bedroom, kills 1-year-old boyLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State Police say a 1-year-old boy was killed when a pickup truck crashed into the bedroom where he was sleeping in a crib. A state police report says the driver of the pickup was southbound on Highway 367 just south of Little Rock Monday afternoon when the truck went off the roadway and into a yard, then struck several trees. The report says the pickup then crashed into the bedroom of a home where the boy was sleeping an...

Arkansas abuse investigator accused of falsifying reportsBENTONVILLE — A former civilian investigator with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division has been accused of fabricating reports in 43 cases in Benton and Washington counties. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2fPxC4P ) reports that a woman was arrested Oct. 27 in connection with tampering with a public record and has been released. The woman hasn't been charged. Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sad...

Arkansas players face backlash after kneeling during anthemFAYETTEVILLE — Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing the University of Arkansas and six women's basketball players who kneeled during the national anthem before an exhibition game, saying they would consider cutting the school's budget over the issue. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long has said the university supported the players who kneeled on Nov. 3, and women's basketball coach Jimmy Dykes said he spoke with the players about their p...

Arkansas Senate, pot campaigns make election eve pitchesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Republican Sen. John Boozman and his Democratic challenger made their final pitches to Arkansas voters Monday while medical marijuana advocates and opponents relied on a last-minute TV ad blitz on the eve of an election that could make the state the first in the South to legalize the drug. More than 587,000 people had cast ballots as of late Monday afternoon, which is more than a third of the state's 1.7 million regist...

Little Rock dedicating bench for man killed by policeLITTLE ROCK — The city of Little Rock is dedicating a new bench in honor of a 67-year-old black man who was fatally shot by two off-duty police officers in 2010. The bench honoring Eugene Edward Ellison is located in MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock. Earlier this year, the city reached a settlement with Ellison's family, and part of it called for a memorial bench in Ellison's honor. Ellison was shot after two officers who were working se...